Monojit Dutta’s Sunday Photo of Children in Canning, West Bengal

On a Sunday morning in Canning, West Bengal, photographer Monojit Dutta placed a large bundle of balloons at the railway station and invited three local boys, about nine to ten years old, to run and jump in a nearby field. The image captures two boys airborne on the left and one boy standing on the right, creating a balanced composition. Dutta later reviewed the shots by the River Matla and applied minor saturation and contrast tweaks on his phone.

The Guardian

Dutta follows a habit of exploring new places on Sundays, coinciding with the end of annual school examinations in the area. The timing provided children with free time for unstructured play, creating the spontaneous setting for the photograph. His method emphasizes natural expression, minimal direction, and brief mobile editing to retain authenticity.

The Guardian

• Early morning: Dutta arrives at Canning station, sets up balloons.

The Guardian

• Soon after: He meets local children playing in a field and offers balloons.

The Guardian

• Prompt: Three boys are asked to run and jump; Dutta does not direct them further.

The Guardian

• Capture: The boys move naturally; one lags slightly, creating visual balance.

The Guardian

• Review: He assesses the images by the River Matla.

The Guardian

• Editing: Minor saturation and contrast adjustments are made on his phone.

The Guardian

Dutta says the photograph aims to show children playing freely under an open sky. The accidental visual balance, due to one child's lower energy, reinforces the theme of spontaneous joy. Minimal phone editing was used only to improve clarity while preserving the scene’s authenticity.

The Guardian

Dutta explained that his Sunday outings provide chances for spontaneous documentation, especially after school exams when children are free for unstructured activity. He noted that he did not direct the children beyond the initial invitation, allowing natural energy and expressions to shape the image. The minor phone edits were applied solely to enhance visual clarity without altering the captured moment.

The Guardian

• “I usually visit new places on Sundays to explore and take photographs, and, on this day, annual school exams had just finished,” — Monojit Dutta, Photographer

The Guardian

• “I came across lots of local children playing in a field, shared out the balloons and asked three of them to run and jump. I didn’t guide their movements beyond that, and their energy and expressions are all natural.” — Monojit Dutta, Photographer

The Guardian

• “Later on, I realised that it had created a nice balance in the frame, with two boys on the left jumping in the air and one on the right still on the ground.” — Monojit Dutta, Photographer

The Guardian

• “I tried to showcase a life where children can play freely under the open sky,” he says.” — Monojit Dutta, Photographer

The Guardian